© University of South Wales

Participation of Young People in Civil SocietySivil Toplumda Gençlerin Katilimi

Conference on Participation of Young Citizens in the New Era, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2014

Dr Howard Williamson CBE FRSA FHEAProfessor of European Youth Policy

All countries have a youth policy – by intent, default or neglect

Policies for, with and by young peopleGeneral policies with a specific youth dimensionGeneral policies that may affect young people

© University of South Wales

‘Youth policy’?

© University of South Wales

‘My background

Youth Policy

Youth research

The voice of young people

Youth Work

Youth transitions- longer, reversible, complex

Opportunities and risksVulnerabilitiesCombating negatives – drop-out, unemployment, drugs, crimePromoting positives

– participation, autonomy, creativity, talent

From ‘benign neglect’ to ‘malign indifference’Don’t “leave the kids alone”

© University of South Wales

Youth PolicyA relatively new concept – why?

Too much ‘youth policy’ is incoherent, contradictory and fragmented

• Legislation• Budgets• Structures for delivery• Policy domains• Cross-cutting issues and objectives• Underpinning drivers for improvement• Monitoring and evaluation

© University of South Wales

Establishing coherence & possibility – the Council of Europe framework

© University of South Wales

The heart of the framework

Structures for DeliveryNational/local government

NGOsYouth organisations

Cross-cutting issuesYouth participation

Social inclusionMobility

Policy domainsEducation/training

HealthHousing

Underpinning driversTraining

ResearchDissemination

Council of EuropeHuman rights and democracyLiving in diverse societiesSocial inclusion of young people

European UnionOpportunities in education and employmentAccess to sports and participationSolidarity between the generations

© University of South Wales

European ‘youth policy’ frameworks

Youth workFrom youth-led to adult-ledContexts, Issues, Methods and GroupsRole, targets and impacts

Youth participationWhy, who, when, where, how, what?Citizenship AND Participation?Article 12 of the UNCRCCombating the democratic deficitThe practice of active citizenshipAnchoring democracyBetter policy and practice

© University of South Wales

Youth work and youth participation

© University of South Wales

Critical questions for social inclusion policy

CoverageCapacityCompetenceCo-ordinationCost

© University of South Wales

Reflecting on youth policy(and its youth participation component)

© University of South Wales

Making it happen

DECISION & DRIVE

decentralisation

DELIVERY

difficulties

DEBATE

dissent

DEVELOPMENT

direction

© University of South Wales

‘I’m fed up with youth participation’

Why?

What?

How?

Who?

When?

Where?

© University of South Wales

‘I’m not really’!

UNCRC – Article 12

The practice of active citizenship

Addressing the democratic deficit

Anchoring democracy, learning and ‘respect’

Better policy and practice

• Democratic and categorical representation• More diverse platforms for engagement

Harnessing new technologies• Emphasising inter-dependency in decision-

making• The challenge and ‘costs’ of reach• Information, preparation and support• The ‘adult’ young and the ‘young’ young

Different voices, understandings and expectations

• Simplicity versus sophistication© University of South Wales

But it is a complex challenge

Always different, always the same

Context is everything

Connecting objective realities and subjective perspectives

‘Translation’ – between different corners of the triangle of research, policy and practice

Implementation ‘leakage’

“Hitting the target, but missing the point”

© University of South Wales

Recurrent lessons in any youth policy and practice

The ‘precarious equilibrium’ of all forms of partnership and collaboration

• Expectations, commitment, reciprocityBut the critical need for partners and championsEvidence and advocacy only ever goes so far

• Politics and pragmatism often take overThere is always a need for reflection and renewal

© University of South Wales

Conclusions

“There is no such thing as a lost cause, only a cause as yet unwon”

John Steinbeck